Thursday, June 19, 2008
Download MP3 (right click to save)
It's no secret around our family that I'm not the most technical or mechanical guy in the world. And when something is wrong with our car, I do head for the gas station. Our friend has worked on our car for years and he does a good job. And since I have been "Joe Used Car" for a lot of my life, there has usually been a fair amount of work to do. I come chugging in, and I tell my friend the symptoms of what seems to be wrong with the car. I tell him about the noise, the starting problem, or the loss of power, and then he talks back to me. He tells me what he thinks it might be, what he thinks it might cost, and how long it might take to fix it. So what do I do? Do I say, "Thanks, friend," and then chug out in my ailing car? No, I have to leave it there!
I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about "Telling isn't Trusting."
Our word from the Word of God comes from Luke 7, beginning at verse 2. "A certain Centurion servant was there, whom his master valued highly. The servant was sick and about to die. The Centurion heard of Jesus, and sent some elders of the Jews to Him, asking Him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with Him." At this point, they are telling Jesus about the problem, just like I tell the mechanic about my car's problem. In this case, it's a very valued servant.
Jesus responds, and the Centurion sends a message back, and says, "I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but say the word and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one go, and he goes, and that one comes, and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it. When Jesus heard this, He was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following Him, He said, 'I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.' And then the men that had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well." Look at those words, "such great faith." Jesus is always talking to His disciples about their little faith. He says, "This unlikely man, this Gentile, has such great faith." Why? Well, he didn't just tell Jesus about the problem, he trusted Him with it. That's why he got the miracle he needed.
It doesn't do any good if I just tell my mechanic about the problems my car has. I have to leave it in his hands and drive away in another car. I do leave it there. I trust him. Maybe you're looking at a problem or need that really could use the touch of God right now. You say, "Well, I've prayed about it." You've prayed about it, but have you really left it with Him? You told Him, but have you trusted Him with it? Notice, this Centurion says, "Just say the word, and it will be done." He recognizes the total authority of Jesus over the situation, and acts as if it is totally in Jesus' hands. That is great faith.
Is that how you are when you pray about someone or something? "Lord, if You say come, it will come. If You say, go, it will go. If You say do this, it will be done." Now when Jesus has the problem, you don't have it anymore. When you tell Jesus about it, you walk in all bent over with the load, and you walk out of the throne room still bent over. No. When you really trust Jesus with it, you walk in bent over, but you walk out standing tall. You left your load in Jesus' hands. So, would you relax in His total authority over the situation? Exercise the faith that brings down the supernatural, "Such great faith."
The old song says, "I must tell Jesus all of my troubles." Upgrade that to, "I must trust Jesus with all of my troubles." Drive it to Jesus, and then, leave it with Him.